That's because Sweeney and other Democrats showed the governor how to fix the problem. It was simple: Raise enough revenue to pay the state's pension contribution bill, and stop it from ballooning out of control.

What Sweeney understands is that failing to make the state's pension payment dooms the system to failure. These payments must be made for the system to function as intended.

Sweeney deserves credit for putting partisan politics aside and putting forth a plan where the state lives up to its obligations.

Chester Randall

South Harrison Township

Editor's note: The writer is the township's retired police chief and a former township committee member.